adminJOHANNESBURG. — Algeria coach Christian Gourcuff believes “spying” on opponents is important and travelled the length of Africa to watch Cup of Nations rivals ahead of match-day 1 qualifiers this weekend.
The 60-year-old Frenchman flew from Algiers to mining town Rustenburg in north-west South Africa to see fellow Group J teams Seychelles and Lesotho playing.
Both countries were competing in the Cosafa Cup southern Africa championship and, within six days, Gourcuff was able to see each side in action three times.
Sitting in a stand where many spectators would have been unaware of his identity, Gourcuff watched, took notes, and avoided contact with the media.
Nothing he saw would have unduly worried a man in charge of one of most talented national squads on the continent, including 2014 BBC African Footballer of the Year Yacine Brahimi.
Seychelles, who drew one game and lost two to lone goals, were ultra-defensive and the challenge for the “Desert Foxes” will be to create gaps in a 10-man defence.
Algeria host the Indian Ocean islanders tomorrow in Blida near Algiers and if they score an early goal, should win convincingly.
Lesotho were more adventurous, managing a win after two losses, but did nothing to worry meticulous Gourcuff.
The coach of the No. 1 ranked African team must believe he has a good knowledge of his challengers as the mini-league is completed by Ethiopia, who met Algeria in the 2015 qualifiers.
But what one of six French coaches in charge of 2017 Cup of Nations hopefuls did is uncommon in Africa with South Africa handler Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba no fan of ‘spying’.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter